My dad is a retired science museum director, and I grew up not only spending free time at the science center as a child, taking classes etc, but in a home environment where we talked about (and put into practice) the importance of play and interdisciplinary exploration. We were encouraged to play and experiment, past the “childhood years” in both humanities and sciences. Later, while working at the National Science Foundation in the “informal science education dept” my dad was known as the “science, humanities, and art interdisciplinary guy”, so he got grant projects to review like plays being created to explain or discuss science themes, or exhibits interweaving art and science etc. Creativity studies was always a big part of his discipline area in this informal science education environment.
When I was in college, and writing an essay on creativity, I called home to have my dad ship me books on creativity for my research project that my college library did not have.
I really appreciate to this day that I was introduced to this idea that play is something intrinsic to us, that our creativity is dependent upon it. And that the intersection of humanities and science is important - they feed each other, instead of compete with each other. One reason why I love spending time with young children, is that they have not been conditioned yet to put play aside. And I want to remember that I can live like that too.
Nowadays I’m writing for fun again, and trying to find ways to keep play in my writing sessions. One thing I have returned to that feels like play is creating magnetic poetry, which lets me visually play with words by moving the limited pieces around on a board, until I have a new poem. I have started to share them in my Substack poetry place, in Spanish and English.
How wonderful! Growing up in an environment where play and exploration were so valued.... There is often an absurd competition between the sciences and the humanities, as if they were opposites, that's ridiculous.
I love how that philosophy has marked your life, the truth is that I see it as you do. In terms of studies, I've always walked in the middle ground between the humanities and the sciences. I have always been a nature lover as well as a lover of languages and cultures of other countries. Everything is equally valuable and everything has marked my life and nourishes my creativity.
How exciting it must have been to go to museums so many times because of your father's work. They are places that I love, they fill me with inspiration :)
Yes… how wonderful to be equally curious about the equally valuable outlooks and parts of life. My life has been marked by many museums and libraries of all kinds. And I am grateful that I got an equal appreciation for the sciences and humanities. They should not be in competition. The fact that we feel the need to separate them out to teach them has always frustrated me. But also we culturally promote the separation… you can’t be poetic, you’re a scientist! Stupid.
One of my favorite classes in college was an astronomy class. My teacher adored teaching it which helped infect the class positively towards the topic. But he also was an accomplished classical pianist- and he gave concerts on campus. He let me write an astronomy paper that I filled with poetry along with my mathematics and I was so grateful to him for letting me do that.
Profound! We take ourselves too seriously when we follow time schedules and formulas. Watching a three-year-old kid playing with blocks is fascinating, but actually joining in the fun is a life-changing experience.
I don't play with blocks anymore, but I still play all kinds of board games with friends. It's great fun, I always come back refreshed, renewed and with new ideas. I love to spend those moments, they fill me with energy.
My dad is a retired science museum director, and I grew up not only spending free time at the science center as a child, taking classes etc, but in a home environment where we talked about (and put into practice) the importance of play and interdisciplinary exploration. We were encouraged to play and experiment, past the “childhood years” in both humanities and sciences. Later, while working at the National Science Foundation in the “informal science education dept” my dad was known as the “science, humanities, and art interdisciplinary guy”, so he got grant projects to review like plays being created to explain or discuss science themes, or exhibits interweaving art and science etc. Creativity studies was always a big part of his discipline area in this informal science education environment.
When I was in college, and writing an essay on creativity, I called home to have my dad ship me books on creativity for my research project that my college library did not have.
I really appreciate to this day that I was introduced to this idea that play is something intrinsic to us, that our creativity is dependent upon it. And that the intersection of humanities and science is important - they feed each other, instead of compete with each other. One reason why I love spending time with young children, is that they have not been conditioned yet to put play aside. And I want to remember that I can live like that too.
Nowadays I’m writing for fun again, and trying to find ways to keep play in my writing sessions. One thing I have returned to that feels like play is creating magnetic poetry, which lets me visually play with words by moving the limited pieces around on a board, until I have a new poem. I have started to share them in my Substack poetry place, in Spanish and English.
Hi Rosemary :)!
How wonderful! Growing up in an environment where play and exploration were so valued.... There is often an absurd competition between the sciences and the humanities, as if they were opposites, that's ridiculous.
I love how that philosophy has marked your life, the truth is that I see it as you do. In terms of studies, I've always walked in the middle ground between the humanities and the sciences. I have always been a nature lover as well as a lover of languages and cultures of other countries. Everything is equally valuable and everything has marked my life and nourishes my creativity.
How exciting it must have been to go to museums so many times because of your father's work. They are places that I love, they fill me with inspiration :)
Yes… how wonderful to be equally curious about the equally valuable outlooks and parts of life. My life has been marked by many museums and libraries of all kinds. And I am grateful that I got an equal appreciation for the sciences and humanities. They should not be in competition. The fact that we feel the need to separate them out to teach them has always frustrated me. But also we culturally promote the separation… you can’t be poetic, you’re a scientist! Stupid.
One of my favorite classes in college was an astronomy class. My teacher adored teaching it which helped infect the class positively towards the topic. But he also was an accomplished classical pianist- and he gave concerts on campus. He let me write an astronomy paper that I filled with poetry along with my mathematics and I was so grateful to him for letting me do that.
Wow, that's story about your astronomy paper really moved me... So beautiful.
Profound! We take ourselves too seriously when we follow time schedules and formulas. Watching a three-year-old kid playing with blocks is fascinating, but actually joining in the fun is a life-changing experience.
Isn't it?
I don't play with blocks anymore, but I still play all kinds of board games with friends. It's great fun, I always come back refreshed, renewed and with new ideas. I love to spend those moments, they fill me with energy.